My 03 dually has wheel simulators. After I bought the truck I tried to find valve stems that would allow checking tire pressure and adding air without taking the tires off the truck. I could not locate any. I finally installed hoses and routed them to the center lug nut cover. The hoses are the ones used on RV's with dually tires.

The problem is that the jerks that rotate and balance the tires are always screwing up the hoses by twisting the hose around the valve stem with the nut tightened down. All they have to do is loose the nut and note the correct position when they take the tires off. That seems to be to difficult. I have had tires leak down because of this. It has been a frustrating effort.

Is there anyone who has simulators and has found a valve stem that will work on the dually wheels so that the tire press can be checked and the tires aired up. If so please tell me the ones you used and the manufacturer.

Thanks for your help.

Tom Cobb

Tom,

I used to have a 37' class A motor home that had short hose extensions that were held in place by screwing a small bracket to the sim. When I got my truck, I looked for and found the same solution and it worked fine. However, before I put them on, I replaced my rubber valve stems with metal valve stems before I mounted the extensions. The whole solution worked fine.

However, the more I thought about it the more I did not like the possibility of one of those extensions coming unattached. My alternate solution (which is what I'm using now) was to go back to using just metal valve stems that are longer than the standard valve stems. I also got a air gage and air hose extension that is about 10 inches long and they have a double side input. I can check all of my tires without removing the sims. If I have to add air to the inner tire, it is possible with the sim on but it is easier if you remove it.

I hope this helps.

I tried to use them like you said and I could never get the right angle stems. I am not sure where I go from here.

Tom, as a new duallie owner I'm dealing with a similar problem.

While doing web searches yesterday (for "high pressure metal stems") I came across a thread in RV.net that lead me to this link http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/%7Etire-man/kit3_instructions.html . It's the online instruction page for a "Dually Valve Stem Kit" that looks like it has possibilities. I've included the instruction page since it has a good photo of the parts of the kit. Here's the link to the main page http://www.ridgecrest.ca.us/%7Etire-man/products.html .

Other than looking at the product, I don't have any opinion on the kit so I'm just tossing this out to you from a fellow DPer with no pro's or con's. The RVer in the RV.net forum thread was pretty pleased with it though. One thing I noticed, a kit for a recent year GMC / Chevy is not specifically listed but maybe one of the three available kits would do just fine. And IIRC, the RVer mentioned that he had to rotate duals to duals / front to front and could not (never did?) do a seven tire rotation, otherwise you'd have to remove and reinstall the stems according to their required position on the truck.

I'd be interested in what you (and others) think after you check it out.

Hope this helps.

Cheers.

P.S. Ahhhh, there is one con........seems a bit on the expensive side. Do you know if these "components" are available to put together ourselves for a lot less dough?

I have the simulators and I just use the valve stems that came with the truck. I check my air pressure every month or so with a double-sided air gauge. I have never needed to add any, but I have a double-sided air chuck that can do the job as well. I have read too many comments on these forums that say people have had problems with extension. Oh, and the simulators? If I have to, I can have one off inside of a minute.

I tried to use them like you said and I could never get the right angle stems. I am not sure where I go from here.

I just use straight metal valve stems that are slightly longer than normal. The problem with the angled stems come in when you rotate your tires.

I have the simulators and I just use the valve stems that came with the truck. I check my air pressure every month or so with a double-sided air gauge. I have never needed to add any, but I have a double-sided air chuck that can do the job as well. I have read too many comments on these forums that say people have had problems with extension. Oh, and the simulators? If I have to, I can have one off inside of a minute.

Agree!

The rotation issue was why I ultimately settled on the hoses but there seems to be a problem no matter which way you go.

Redmetoc links show a very neat setup but it sure plays havoc with rotating and balancing.

I agree Tom. It's not perfect either way.

BTW, do you have the extended tire gauge with a double head and a air tank connection with a double head?

Yes I do. It doesn't help. The answer may be to get rid of the simulators.

I just use straight metal valve stems that are slightly longer than normal. The problem with the angled stems come in when you rotate your tires.
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As he said it works just fine. Just get 1 1/2 inch extensions, I suggest painting them white to make them easer to see and no problem.

Do you have simulators? If you do then you will be first one I know of that straight stems work with them.

OK .. I have to ask, maybe I missed the answer??

Extended stems on the NEW GMT900's and the plastic covers, but what about the DPS. Unless you use the OEM stems you can't re-install the DPS sensors.

Has anyone tried extenders that screw onto you OEM stem?

Do you have simulators? If you do then you will be first one I know of that straight stems work with them.

Yes I do have them. Believe me this works great. Just be sure to have a air chuck that is double ended and a air gauge likewise. A piece of cake.
I painted the extenders white and they show up very well.

I have[1] 12in valve extender screw it on to check and fill unscrew it put it my door pocket . seems to work the best

duramex

When you check the outside tire with a 12" extension it would seem you are laying under the truck to do so. The stem on the outside tire points towards the truck.

You guys must have a different simulator than I have. I have tried the double sided tire gage and filler and have no joy in doing it. They don't work.

Maybe I am missing something here about what you are doing.